Megan Maynor, author of Henry at Home, illustrated by Alea Marley
Children’s Literature Category, sponsored by Books for Africa
Each week leading up to the 34th annual Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony, we are featuring exclusive interviews with our 36 finalists. You can also watch the authors in conversation with their fellow category finalists here.
Would you tell us one or two things about your finalist book that you are particularly proud of, and why?
I think the writing captures those big feelings that come with being left behind and separated, as well as the burgeoning excitement that comes with new independence.
Honestly, I’m also proud that this book sometimes makes adults cry.
What do you hope that your audience learns or takes away from your book?
This book is an ode to sibling love. So, I hope readers see both how special that sibling connection can be, AND that it’s okay to venture away from each other and have independent experiences.
You can be apart, and come back together, and that relationship is still awesome and powerful.
What advice would you give to an aspiring writer with an interest in your category?
Remember that a picture book should be about something that matters in the life of a child.
Luckily, everything from love to stinkbugs matters in the life of a child.
Tell us something about yourself that is not widely known.
Like many Gen Xers, I saw Top Gun and was sure that I should be a pilot. I took flying lessons for a while when I was a teenager and learned to fly a small plane.
Minnesota enjoys a reputation as a place that values literature and reading. If this sentiment rings true for you, what about our home state makes it such a welcoming and conducive place for writers?
For me, The Loft Literary Center has been central to my development as a writer. And our independent bookstores have been central to my career as an author.
When I wanted to learn more about picture book writing (pre-online classes), I felt so fortunate that this resource, The Loft, was available right in my community. This is also where I began connecting with other writers, leading to the community I am so lucky to know today.
And our stellar local indies curate beautiful collections of children’s books, host touring authors (in non-pandemic times) and support local authors in all times.
And I suppose it does not hurt that it’s cold and dark here for a few months every year. Might as well stay inside and do some writing.
Since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, virtually everything about our lives has changed in some way. Has COVID-19 (and its fallout) impacted your writing habits and preferences? Has the unique zeitgeist of the past two years influenced your writing output in any other ways that you can pinpoint?
As a person who works at home, when everyone came home from work and school, it was like they all came to work with me. So, there was the challenge of managing space and time. But there was also a lot of heaviness, fear, tense relations, and all the struggles of a whole household of people trying to adapt.
The ideal state for teens is not isolated at home with their parents.
As time went on, the loss of all the formal and casual daily connections with students, teachers, booksellers, fellow kidlit community members, writers, and pals was fairly devastating. I missed people! It makes me so happy to feel some of that connection returning now.
The first year was very difficult as far as producing new work. In 2022, I have already felt more lightness and room for creativity.
Megan Maynor is the author of A House for Every Bird, the Ella and Penguin books, and others. She teaches picture book writing at The Loft.